Lilly went to our Sunday drop-in class for the first time in a few weeks. It was the first time we tried some of the strategies from the book “Control Unleashed” in a class setting. There were a few challenges since there were many new dogs in the class, so it was a big group. Here’s a rundown of our efforts.
We arrived just a bit early, and I parked in different lot so that Lilly would be less likely to have to deal with other dogs upon arrival or departure. I sat for a few minutes with Lilly on the tailgate of my car. I massaged her ears and took some deep breaths. Then, I tucked her mat in my belt, next to my bait bag. With clicker in hand and treats at the ready, we set out with Lilly on a long training lead, held short.
As we walked toward the small side of the fenced-in dog park, Lilly showed interest in saying hello to Conto, a big German Shepherd that we adore, but since the new rule is no visiting unless it’s part of an exercise, I called her off. This surprised Conto’s handler since I usually let Lilly say hi, if she shows interest, but I just explained that for now, Lilly is on a no visiting rule.
While everyone else went into the fenced area to let their dogs play a bit before class, Lilly and I settled down on the grass outside on her mat. I rubbed her. I kissed her. I fed her treats for just hanging out with me. When she growled and started to pop up toward a new dog that ran to the fence to look at her, we moved further back and settled in again on the ground together about 20 feet from the fence. We played LOOK, and it went OK, I think.
I asked our fellow reactive pal, Pete, and his handler to keep a bit of extra distance, so as is their norm, they stayed right up to the fence. Pete is great, even when other dogs come right up to him like that.
When class started, Pete and Judy went into the fenced area, but when I asked Lilly to join class, she laid down in classic shutdown style. So, we stayed outside the fence and worked there. We did some heeling and some down stays fairly close to the fence line. I just plopped down her mat, and she hung out with a high rate of reward for being good. We also played a little LOOK here too.
Usually, the class does restrained recalls last, but this week we did them first. So, again, I asked Lilly to join class. She balked a bit, but I used our mantra “The faster we move, the braver we are.” Once inside the pen with the other dogs, she did shutdown a bit, but I just gave her extra space until she perked up and then lots of treats. I also reverted to keeping her focused on me because she seemed to need it.
Come her turn, she ran straight to me across the field, with the other dozen or so dogs looking on. I cheered my head off, jackpotted her like crazy, leashed her up, and we sprinted for the gate. Once outside, we celebrated some more and jumped our jitters out. I figured that one recall was plenty, then I gave her a break again to just sniff and relax and walk around.
Later we worked over the the basketball courts on some stays and heeling. Then, we did pass the pup, where your dog has to work for someone else. Lilly tends to do well at that, so I went ahead and got into the circle. I just asked people to back up and give her extra space from the group … with the deal being I’d rescue her if she got too scared. I watched her out of the corner of my eye, and she did really well. She worked for 4 different people. Some she knows. Some she doesn’t. And by all accounts, she did just fine. So, that’s a good confidence builder for her, I think.
Plus, I got to work with Lucca (a brilliant German Shepherd), Taloola (a young, huge, goofy lab mix), Onyx (another border collie) and Princess Diana (a Brittany pup). It’s always interesting to me to work with other dogs. I think I have a higher rate of reinforcement than most people in my class, so dogs tend to dig me.
So, other than one shutdown, which I honored, and one growl, she did great.
Other Notes
During other work in public this week, we practiced LOOK with some chickens.
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